Gokuraku Onsen or Yunomoto? Two Carbonated Springs in Takaharu
Both Takaharu baths charge ¥650; compare Gokuraku’s sauna and outdoor bath with Yunomoto’s clear cold spring and heated golden bath.
Checked: September 27, 2026
In Takaharu’s Oku-Kirishima area, the choice is less about price than how you want to use a carbonated cold spring. Gokuraku Onsen Takumi no Yado has more bathing variety and opens earlier on several days. Yunomoto Onsen publishes a precise source temperature and makes the cold-to-warm contrast the centre of its bath experience.
| Gokuraku Onsen Takumi no Yado | Yunomoto Onsen | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult day-use admission | ¥650 | ¥650 |
| Child rate | ¥300 | ¥300, ages 3–12 |
| Hours | Sun, Mon, Fri, Sat: 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; Tue and Wed: 7–10 a.m. and 3–9 p.m. | 10 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Last entry | 8:30 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
| Weekly/monthly closure | Thursdays | Dates posted monthly; Oct 2026: 7, 14, 21 and 28 |
| Standout | Sauna, outdoor bath and a bath carved from one huge stone | 21.6°C carbonated source, a transparent cold bath and a heated golden bath |
Gokuraku gives you more ways to bathe
The current schedule, in effect since April 7, 2026, gives Gokuraku an early start on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are split into morning and afternoon sessions; the bath closes between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday is its regular closing day. Last admission is 8:30 p.m.
Inside, the one-carved-stone bath is the most distinctive feature. There is also a sauna, outdoor bath, spring-water cold bath and a separate cold plunge. The operator describes its source as a high-concentration carbonated cold mineral spring and says it is not diluted; it does not list an exact source temperature on the current bath page.
A private bath can be booked for 50 minutes at ¥3,000, including admission. It is offered from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is closed Wednesdays and Thursdays; weekend and holiday bookings are required. Ask the front desk about availability before making it central to a day trip.
Yunomoto is the more spring-focused visit
Yunomoto’s source is listed at 21.6°C and classified as a bicarbonate cold mineral spring containing carbon dioxide, magnesium, sodium and calcium. The operator says it heats the water without adding water. In the bathing area, a clear cold pool sits alongside a heated bath that turns golden, with an outdoor bath completing the lineup.
The day-use window is 10 a.m.–9 p.m., with last entry at 8:30 p.m. Children aged three to twelve pay ¥300. Tattoos are not permitted. Its closure dates are posted by month: the latest notice lists October 7, 14, 21 and 28, and November 4, 11, 18 and 25.
Which one fits your route?
Choose Gokuraku if you want sauna time, several bathing options or an early soak before heading toward Kirishima, Kobayashi or Miyakonojo. Yunomoto is the stronger fit if you want the published cold-spring details and plan to move between its clear source water and the heated mineral bath. Both are in the same rural hot-spring area, so a car makes the comparison practical; do not assume you can easily walk between them.
For another Miyazaki bath where spring information is central, see the Kijiya guide in Gokase. If your plans are closer to the city, Yupo-Po and Laspa Takazaki are easier to compare by access and family-bath options.
